sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua

Sweetgum is an important commercial hardwood in the U.S. southeast, where it occurs naturally on bottomland sites. In addition, it has proven very competitive in a variety of other sites, soils, and moisture regimes. It can be easily recognized by its star-shaped leaves.

Light
Sweetgum is intolerant of shade and has good stump sprouting ability. Clearcut and seed-tree methods work best to regenerate this species.

Water Sweetgum is somewhat sensitive to drought, and growth is greatly reduced on dry sites. It is found on a wide variety of southern soils but does best on moist alluvium.

Growth

Size
A medium to large tree to 80 feet tall with a straight stem and a pyramidal crown, especially when young.

Fun Facts
Sweetgum's name comes from the hardened clumps of sap that are exuded from the wounds. Sweetgum is a relative of witchhazel, the medicinal plant common in moist woodland undestories. Sweetgum is a common ornamental despite the numerous spiky "gumballs" that fall from the tree. A horticultural variety exists that has rounded leaf tips and does not produce fruit.